October 8, 2001—The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has committed more than $344 million to the response and recovery effort since the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. Funds expended to date have been used to address immediate needs such as emergency services, debris removal, disaster housing grants, and special mission assignments to other federal agencies. The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $9.4 million in low-interest loans to business owners, homeowners, renters, and non-profit organizations impacted by the disaster.
FEMA continues to cooperate with city, state, and volunteer agencies in an effort to bring aid to those affected by the disaster. Below are highlights of federal involvement as of October 1:
- 1,657 FEMA personnel have been deployed to New York City to assist in recovery operations.
- More than 20 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Forces have served on a rotational basis in New York since September 11, representing a total of 1,240 firefighters and 80 search dogs.
- 144,629 tons of debris (9,748 truckloads) from the WTC site have been removed to a sorting and disposal site.
- The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has supervised the removal of 44,000 cubic yards of dredge material from the Pier 6 area.
- At the city’s request, USACE structural engineering teams are surveying buildings and structures in the impacted area to assure safety in search, rescue, and debris removal operations. The Corps continues to support the NYC Fire Department with Tactical Operations Centers in the WTC area.
- FEMA hazardous material experts are making continual assessments at Ground Zero and implementing emergency response, disposal, and wash-down procedures as necessary.
- A total of 190 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) personnel operating at various locations throughout the city have treated a total of 5,574 patients to date, most of them police, fire department, and construction workers. Veterinary Medical Assistance Team personnel have provided a total of 879 treatments to the search and rescue dogs. A long-term strategy for medical monitoring of state and city employees has been finalized.
Business owners, homeowners, and renters are being urged to call FEMA toll-free at 800/462-9029 (TTY 800/462-7585) to apply for federal and state assistance programs and services. FEMA has added phone registration operators to accommodate an anticipated increase in calls, and multilingual services are available to accommodate all language groups in affected areas. FEMA teleregistration operators are making referrals to local and voluntary agencies as well as to the New York Crime Victims Board at 1-800-247-8035 (TTY 1-888-289-9747) for assistance under the Victims of Crime Act.
132 different agencies and organizations are participating in response and recovery effort at present, FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaison reports. FEMA personnel are working with state and city to monitor the growing number of fund drives and to coordinate donations. The New York Donations Hotline number is 800/801-8092.
